NOTABLE NO VOTE (Expanded State Pension Benefits): McClintock was one of 6 State Assemblymembers who voted against S8 400 (1999) by Deborah Ortiz, which created new Public Employee Retirement System pension formula allowing a retirement benefit factor of 2% at age 55 increasing to 2.5% at age 63 and above.

NOTABLE NO VOTE (Expanded Local Pension Benefits): McClintock was one of 7 State Senators (and 14 legislators overall) who voted against AB 616 (2001) by Tom Calderon, which created allowed California cities, counties and special districts to offer retirement benefit factors up to 3% at age 60. These higher benefit factors led to severe unfunded pension liabilities in a number of cities a decade later.

Prior to starting his campaign for CD-04 in 2008, McClintock had pulled papers to run for Lieutenant Governor and State Board of Equalization, District 2.